Monday 9th October – Day 85
Cruising day today. We seem to be getting into the habit of cruising on a Monday morning which is a nice way to keep some kind of routine. We had an early morning wander to Tesco and then it was time to untie the ropes and off we go to a chorus of goodbyes from the local ducks!
I’m updating this on Thursday and I cannot remember what we did or where we moored. I swear my memory is absolutely shocking! I really need to get into the habit of updating this at the end of each day but something always happens and I forget but I create so much extra work for myself trying to go back and remember. ((Wow that was a good mini rant! But still, I’m going to get my microscopic violin out))
It’s now four hours later as I gave up and did some editing and started making lists on my monthly planner and that has helped with working out where we were and what we did so here goes… ((You just wanted to use your new planner admit it! You’re a stationery addict!)) Well, I did and i am but also when I come to turn this adventure into a book next year having all this information will be more than helpful as I don’t want to have to go back and try and find all this.
So, we cruised for about 3.5 miles and moored up somewhere near Little Haywood. It was quite a noisy mooring as this is near an area with a few train lines which carry passengers and freight so they are busy all night but it’s easy to drown it out noises especially when we are treated to the most amazing sunset! I’ve added the pics to my Instagram if you want to have a look. It also reminded me of the Stephen King film; Mist, but thankfully no monsters arrived! As the sun was setting the mist starting rolling off the River Trent and across the fields and then onto the canal – simply beautiful.
After we moored up earlier I nearly ticked off the job of cleaning the windows as I still have the kitchen window on the canal side which I couldn’t clean last time as we had varnished the worktop and I didn’t want to get it dirty ((Not this again. How many windows have you got on that boat! Please let it be over soon. This chapter will be riveting in your book – you could market it as a sleep aid)) and if I do say so myself, they look great and hopefully that means they are all sorted for winter and then just need the normal regular cleaning.
Miles/Distance: 3.5 (Rugeley to near Little Haywood )
Locks: 1
Tuesday 10th October – Day 86
Cruising day again today as the aim to get to Great Haywood and beyond so we can moor up. When we arrived at the junction where the boat services are we chatted to a guy who told us its going to rain again tomorrow so we made the decision to try and moor up somewhere nice.
But before that we cruised past The Pirate Boat! I mention her tomorrow as I’m working backwards on my days ((Why does this not surprise me!)) Heidi was just looking out the window so like a super fan I gave her double thumbs up and shouted we loved her channel ((OH dear God!)) she waved thank you and when I tagged her on Instagram ((This gets worse – you know people get put away for stalking!)) she sent me a nice message back.
Miles/Distance: 2 (Little Haywood to bridge 78 )
Locks: 2 (Haywood Lock & Hoo Mill Lock – both nice locks)
I really do love these single locks on the Trent and Mersey Canal. I was chatting to someone who thought some of them were difficult and I mentioned how difficult the Erewash was and these are easy in comparison. I guess it’s all relative to what your frame of reference is.
We moor up just past the bridge for lunch and so I can do some washing as we have filled up at the water point and have hot water from cruising. We are right next to a very active wasps’ nest but luckily they keep their distance. There must have been thousands of them! Anyway, it soon all done and we move on and decide to turn the boat around in the winding hole before the next lock so we are facing the right way to cruise back to the junction. Chris did a great job of turning the boat which I filmed but might have to time-lapse it when I add to YouTube. We moored up for the night shortly after in the perfect spot near Ingestre Bridge.
We went for a wander after tea and there were some beautiful horses in the field – one looked like Black Beauty from the tv series. ((Showing your age there Peachy)) We walked up which I would say is an old drovers road and onto a bridge which had seen better days but it’s so interesting to explore these places. We spot a kingfisher swooping under the bridge and the pheasants are out in force in the fields. We are treated to the most glorious sunset over the hills and fields. Wonderful! I decide the remote and very large building across the building are probably some kind of cult! ((Honestly the places your brain goes to!))
Wednesday 11th October – Day 87
The promised rain arrived and we have a cosy day on the boat to start the big clean up. It’s the same as living in a house when you tackle DIY jobs, the whole place gets neglected and it soon becomes a mess! I also try and get my videos and vlogs sorted. I was doing so well getting ahead and then with both of us being poorly on and off for a couple of weeks as well as me doing my author event and prepping for that, I’m very behind and have about 6 weeks worth of vlogs to edit! ((I’ve got a bone to pick with you. Don’t you go giving orders to one of my number one fans about hurrying up to watch your vlogs to check them. She has more important things to do like book holidays!)) Alright!
During a break in the weather we decide to have a wander up the tow path and spot The Pirate Boat again moored further along – sharing a canal with Narrowboat Vlogging royalty. I highly recommend you check out her channel, Heidi is so funny – as long as you like innuendos though lol ((Heidi is a bit rude Peachy!)) I know, but very, very funny and it’s only in a jokey way. We love watching her.
Then it was back to the dinette and more editing. ((GO on Peachy. Confess what you did…)) Well, I might have accidentally ((Because her infamous Yorkshire strength she goes on about failed her…)) put a big log on the fire which set the smoke alarm off. But it wasn’t because of the fire blazing hotter than the fires of Mordor. It was because Chris ((Oh, how did we know somehow it wouldn’t really be your fault!)) had painted the stove again and we hadn’t had a proper hot fire blazing and to seal the paint you have to have a hot fire. It was a good job it happened when the rain had stopped but we had to go out in the dark at about 7.30pm ((Royal we)) and open all the cratch covers, duck hatch and windows to let the fumes out! Even though I knew we were safe, it was just the fumes and not the boat burning down it was stressful! The next day we took off the brass ring at the top of the fire to double check and everything was fine. At least we can say that the stove is 100% correct and safe. I’ve accidentally done us a favour really. ((Well you would see it like that!))
Thursday 12th October – Day 88
Moving day today as the weather has cleared even though it is certainly colder. As I said a friend is coming up on Saturday as we’ve had some items posted to her house so need to be back near the Great Haywood junction ((So nothing at all to do with the farmshop then??)) we also want to charge the batteries and use the services again before we have to break out the spare cassette again. It’s a lovely cruise for about a mile and Chris does a perfect turning again before reversing the boat into a space just near the junction so we still have the chance to change our minds about the direction we want to go in; which changes hourly!
I crack on with another wash as might as well take advantage of being near the water point and as I’ve said before, our Twintub probably equates to a quarter of a wash of a normal washing machine. We have ordered a clothes dryer as we think it will be useful, especially in winter for drying clothes rather than hanging them from the curtain poles.
Other than a little walk I spend the rest of the day trying to catch up with blogs and vlogs now we have a better signal. It was almost impossible at the last mooring as the signal got worse, along with the weather. Tomorrow we are hoping to have a look at some of the wonderful places nearby depending on how the weather holds out.
Miles/Distance: 1
Locks: 1 (Hoo Mill Lock – lovely lock)
Friday 13th October – Day 89
The weather really kicked off today so it was an inside boat day and I carry on with vlogging and blogging ((Honestly, you’re stringing them out a bit!)) they take ages! I’ve said before that it is true that roughly every minute of a vlog which is uploaded to YouTube equates to about an hour and it’s true. When you consider filming it, checking the video, editing, uploading, creating the video and then downloading and uploading to YouTube ((Alright, I believe you, I wasn’t that interested!)) I do enjoy and I’m trying to get ahead as once I get my novel back I’m going to have to crack on with some serious writing as I will have approx 50k to add. Although I usually take part in something called NaNoWriMo which is National Novel Writing Month in November and the aim is to write 50k in a month so that will help and then fingers crossed I’m going to Jersey in Dec/Jan where the book is set for research ((Yeah, we believe you!))
I cannot keep up with all the amazing reviews coming in for Power of Nature. It’s one of those goals in life where I wanted to reach 50 reviews for a book which has taken 4 years and now it’s smashing past and currently on 64!
Saturday 14th October – Day 90
My friend was due to come up today but sadly she couldn’t make it so we change our plans slightly and head into Stafford for a wander. It’s lovely place with some really nice oldy worldy places and parks. Sadly the high street has too many empty shops as does everywhere at the moment but there was a little vibrant market and walks along the river so well worth a visit although due to the heavy rains just lately the river has burst it’s banks somewhat and a lot of the riverside walk was closed off. Makes you wonder what it’s going to be like when winter proper kicks in!
We were going to go out for a meal but decide against it. It’s our 25th Anniversary but to be honest we cannot afford to go out for the day and a meal as we all know how much everything has gone up, so instead we settle down on the boat, enjoy a pizza and a couple of drinks and reminisce on days gone by and future adventures to come.
Sunday 15th October – Day 91
Well, that was a night! We haven’t quite got ourselves prepared for winter as I get up at 3am as the temperatures have plummeted! I discover we only have a small log and one piece of coal! It’s like Scrooge has moved onto the boat. So, eventually it’s lights on, a trip into the bow to get logs and coal before relighting the fire and setting up camp on the dinette. The whole thing folds down to create a double bed and it’s much warmer than the bedroom once it’s gets going! The plan is to be a bit smarter ((So, choked on my espresso then))
It’s so funny. I’m currently sitting at the dinette and the amount to people who walk past and comment on the boat name either The Plot – have they lost the plot? ((Yes you have)) or haha, look, “it’s called the Halfcut carrying co'”. It makes me smile to hear people laugh and giggle as they go past.
Anyway back to the middle of the night…
So we need to be a bit more prepared now. When we lived in the marina it was no problem as we would just plug in the little portable electric fire but we had access to mains electric. If we have a day where we are not getting much solar or haven’t cruised or run the engine to top up the batteries then we cannot run an electric fire all night and even then it would drain the batteries too much. The plan is to either put the fire on for a little bit before bed just make the air warm – I’m not very good with the cold but if it’s warm when I get in bed and fall to sleep I will be okay. We do have a fan on the fire to spread the heat but in really cold nights that won’t be enough. We can put the heating on but that uses diesel and if the coal fire is on the main part of the boat would get too hot! ((I’m lost. Just put a hat on or woman up!)) it’s just getting that right balance as I refuse to be cold. We will figure it out. It’s a nice challenge to try and work out how to heat the boat in the most efficient way.
Coffee drunk and breakfast consumed we decide to go for a wander around Shugborough Estate which is part of the National Trust. What a beautiful place. It’s one of those days you need to wrap up warm but also where your sunglasses on as it’s so sunny which is great for solar! Wander done, we head to the farmshop to purchase some amazing veg and home to make soup and settle down to watch MotoGP.
We need to stay in the area to hopefully see my friend next week. Not only for a catch up but as i’ve said we’ve had a number of things sent to her house, but we need to leave here soon as the winter mooring times haven’t changed so I think we will cruise a short distance down the staffs and Worcester canal to the Tixall Wide we saw the other day with the beautiful sunset, as we can also wind the boat and come back to the junction ready for Saturday.
Right, until next week! xx
Don’t forget my vlog should be live as well. Click here and if you want to have a nosey at the sunset pictures check out my Instagram page.
C.L. Peache 